Steve Fossett

Shoot the rich guy (or as I like to call it, hunting with Dick Chaney). So most people have heard that adventurer Steve Fossett’s airplane disappeared about 90 miles south of Reno, NV on September 5, 2007 after leaving a private ranch.

Also, most people now know that his plane and remains were found near Mammoth Lakes, CA on September 29, 2008

Nonetheless, rampant speculation as to his disappearance culminated in Miles O’Brien suggesting that Fossett was shot down over Area51 while on-air at CNN. While not probable, this myth is beginning to pick up speed and is getting a life of its own.

Here’s what Miles O’Brien had to say:

“It is possible that Fossett flew into some restricted air space in that area. Nellis Air Force base is nearby, that’s the home of the Thunderbirds. Not far also from Area 51 which everyone knows a little something about. It is possible that there was some sort of electronic radar information which the military might have had associated with that restricted air space.”

While Nellis Air Force Base is more than 350 miles from where Fossett was flying and Area 51’s main gate is more than 300 miles, Fossett’s plane and remains were found less than 200 miles from the edge of Area 51 as the crow flies. Planes can cover 200 miles pretty quickly, even if they have been damaged by anti-aircraft fire.